Grate-bar.



W. C. ARMSTRONG.

G-RATE BAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2, 1914.

1,169,107. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

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'nmTEn STATES PATENT enrich.

WILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG, F SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

enArE-BAn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed May 20, 1912, Serial No. 698,366. I Divided and this application filed November 2,

1914. Serial 110.869,?49.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, YVILLIA1\[G. ARM- s'rnone, a citizen of the United States, residin at Springfield, in the county of Clark and Eitate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grate- Bars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to grate bars, such as are used in the manufacture of grates for furnaces and the like, and is a division of an application for patent filed by me May th, 1912, Ser. No. 698,366.

The object of the invention is to provide a grate bar of superior strength and durability, and one on which the effects of the heat will be comparatively small.

To this end it is a further object of the invention to provide the grate bar with truss-like depending walls in which the metal is so disposed as to give the greatest strength at the points at which it is most needed, and which arrangement also serves to provide an air passage through the grate bar; and also to taper the'fingers of the grate bar both longitudinally and Vertically and to so form the grate bar'as to reinforce the fingers at their point of connection with the body of the grate bar.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' is a perspective view of a portion of a grate made up of grate bars embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of one of the grate bars showing the manner of mounting the same and the lengthwise taper of the fingers; Fig. 8 is a similar view with the grate bar in its normal position and showing both the vertical and the lengthwise taper of the fingers; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a grate bar embodying my invention.

In these drawings 1 have illustrated one embodlment of the lnventlon, and ha e shown the same as embodied in each of a plurality of gratebars, indicated by the reference numeral 1, each of which is provided at its opposite ends with trunnions 2 which rest in bearings 3 in the upper edges of frame members 4, thus pivotally supporting different length and the short fingers of one grate bar being opposite the corresponding long fingers of the adjacent grate bars. The axes of the adjacent grate bars are spaced apart such distances that when said grate bars are in theirnor mal positions their fingers will interlock or overlap so as to form a continuous fiat surface to support the fuel. strength of the grate bars without materially altering the clearance between them I prefer to taper the fingers lengthwise, as

clearly shown in Fig. 2, and if desired they because of their shape, but this shape also enables a stronger casting to be had, as it is ditlicult to make a satisfactory casting with a sharp corner. Each individual grate bar may be rocked about the axis of its trunnions to agitate the fuel and remove therefrom cinders, clinkers and the like. To enable this rocking movement to be accomplished, one of the lateral fingers 5 of each grate bar has a depending portion 6, and a connecting bar 7 is pivotally connected with the depending portion 6 of each grate bar, so as to cause the several grate bars to move in unison. An actuating bar or rod 8 is connected with the connecting bar 7 and extends to a suitable point, where it may be provided with any suitable means for imparting rocking movement to the grate bars, such means being fully shown and described in the above-mentioned application.

Each grate bar is provided with longitudinally depending walls or ribs 9, which are spaced apart and which form between themselves a chamber 10, communicating at its upper edge with a series of openings or slots 11 extending through the top wall or body portion of the grate bars. This construction provides for a free circulation of air from the ash pit, through the body of the grate bar to the fuel, thus not only affording a better draft for the fire but t n g $0 6001 To increase the Copies of this patent may be obtained for the grate bar and minimize the effect of the heat thereon. The depending ribs 9 give a truss-like support to the body of the grate bar, thereby greatly strengthening the same.

In order that the grate bar may be reinforced at thepoints where the greatest strengthis 1 U-shaped body portion comprising a horineeded the twoldepending ribs are thickened. at the lower edges, as shown at 12. I prefer'also to thicken the ribs at theirupper tion of the grate bar. Consequently, I'have here shown the two ribs as having their,

inner" faces concaved, thereby thickening the upper and lower edges thereof and reducing the thickness of the central portion thereof.

It will be apparent from the foregoing de scription that the grate bar thus produced has great strength and durability, that the effect of the 'heatthereon will be comparatively small, and further, that the eonstruc-' tion which brings about these advantages is such as to enable the grate bar to be readilymanufactured, thereby enabling it to be produced at relatively low cost.

While I have shown and described one embodimentof my invention, it will be understood thatthls has been chosen for the purpose of illustrationonly, and that I do not wish to be limited to the details shown 5 and. described, as various modifications Wlll occur to one skilled in the art.

I Havingthus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is: c

1. In a grate bar, a substantially inverted I U-shaped body P01111011 comprising a 'horizontal, fuel-supporting surface and depend five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. 0.

ing spaced apart ribs projecting from the longitudinal edges of said horizontalsurface, said ribs being of increasing thickness zontal, fuel-supporting surface and depend ring spaced apart ribs projecting from the ends Wherethey merge into the body'p'or longitudinal edges of said horizontal surface, and said ribs being thickened at their upper and lower portions.

3. In a grate bar, a bodyportion to sup port the fuel, having laterally extending fingers and also having truss-like ribs extending downward from said body portion, arranged longitudinally of said body portion and spaced apart to form a chamber between them, said ribs being thickened'at their up- I per and lower edges.

4. In a grate bar, a substantially inverted U-shaped body portion comprising a horizontal, fuel-supporting surface, depending spaced apart ribs projecting from the longitudinal edges of said horizontal surface, a series of fingers projecting from each side of said body portion; the alternate fingers of each series beingof different lengths, and said fingersbeing tapered from the bodj of the bar toward their ends.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature in presence of witnesse WILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG.

lVit'nesses: I l c p g M. RAY WEIKART,

CHARLEs B. ZIMMEBMAN, GEORGE W. TEHAN,

the Commissioner of Patents, 

